Here’s something where you will feel right at home -- mobile dating. If this is your first time to encounter the word, mobile dating simply means dating using your mobile phone. You read that right. You get to chat or flirt with other people, swap photos and have video calls with them, and--if the sparks are there--meet up with that person and maybe take the relationship to the next level.

Signing up for a mobile dating service is a lot better than joining dating sites on the web. Here, you don’t have to log on to a computer to connect with people. All you need is your cell phone (which you consider to be such a major necessity in the first place that a few seconds without it and you start to have palpitations) and a good signal. Cool, huh?

First thing you have to do is put a profile up on a mobile dating site of your choice. Your username or ID will help distinguish you from among a sea of other mobile daters using the service. The site will then suggest some phone numbers of users for you, or you may do the searching yourself based on age, gender and sexual preference.

Membership on mobile dating sites is usually free (basic subscription). Ask your mobile provider first if connecting with other users of a dating site via text messaging and other features would incur additional fees. Paid membership to mobile dating sites allows you to use its more exclusive features and take you closer to your goal of hooking up with the best among the lot, so you might want to consider that. The fees are usually in the range of $9.99 to $19.00.

Some mobile dating sites offer such advanced features as homing devices which let users know if a member happens to be in the same area as them. Members may also establish a connection while being in the same club or bar via Blue tooth technology. If you think mobile dating could be a good investment for your romantic bandwidth, start with Google to search for cool sites and get an overview of how they work. Date.com, Shaadi Matrimonial, Lavalife, Match.com, and DatingDirect are just some interesting sites you may want to consider.

The Internet has made it a lot easier to connect with other people for a possible relationship. Mobile dating and online dating remove the barriers of location and culture. It has also made it a lot more convenient for busy people to find potential mates outside of their inner circles. A word of caution when using mobile dating sites, though: It’s not immune from jerks, psychopaths, stalkers, and extortionists, so be very extra careful when sharing information about yourself.

With mobile dating, your date prospects are no longer limited to classmates, neighbors, or colleagues. You are thrust into a wider universe where meeting the one you might someday swap “I Dos” with is literally just a few calls or text messages away.